Rumor: Next-Gen iPhone to Include NFC for Mobile Payments

Apple's next-generation iPhone, expected to be launched this fall, could include a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip, allowing users to easily buy products through their smartphone, according to a new report.

Apple's next-generation iPhone, expected to be launched this fall, could include a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip, allowing users to easily buy products through their smartphone, according to a new report.

9to5Mac recently analyzed a hardware code dump from two new iPhone prototypes and found references to an integrated NFC chip and antenna. NFC is a wireless technology that has a range of only a few inches and is compatible with the countless ID card terminals around the world, allowing for contact-less payments.

The new discovery follows Apple's unveiling earlier this month of an e-wallet app for iOS 6 called Passbook, which lets users store electronic versions of things like airline boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, and loyalty cards. Now, there is speculation that Apple will incorporate an NFC-enabled mobile payment system into Passbook.

The feature would set the stage for Apple to compete with Google Wallet and Microsoft's recently announced NFC wallet service for Windows Phone 8. Apple could integrate with an established mobile payment service such as Citibank's PayPass, or handle its own payments through the many credit cards already stored on iTunes, 9to5Mac pointed out.

Also, besides replacing the plastic credit card, NFC technology would allow iPhone owners to more quickly and easily share files from one iOS device to another.

Apple has reportedly been working on NFC integration for some time. Last year, in advance of the iPhone 4S launch, there were various rumors about the technology being included in Apple's smartphone, and just as many rumors that said it would not. When the iPhone 4S was unveiled in October, NFC was nowhere to be seen.

Some forward-thinking techies are already swiping their smartphone to pay for things, but mobile payments haven't really taken off with the masses here in the U.S. However, some 65 percent of experts surveyed earlier this year said they think most people will fully adopt mobile payments by 2020, nearly eliminating the need for cash or credit cards.

About the Author

Angela has been a PCMag reporter since January 2012. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a reporter for SC Magazine, covering everything related to hackers and computer security. Angela has also written for The Northern Valley Suburbanite in New Jersey, The Dominion Post in West Virginia, and the Uniontown-Herald Standard in Pennsylvania. She ... See Full Bio

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.